RAYAGADA: TWO brothers detained a railway engine on Wednesday protesting against denial of job by Vedanta Alumina. Ashok Kumar Khora and his brother Kanhu Charan Khora, who lost their lands after railway track was laid through their village towards Vedanta Alumina in Lanjigarh, detained the engine on way to Vedanta plant near Purna Ambodola.
Ashok, an MBA graduate, lay himself on the track and put a red flag, bringing the engine to a halt. The two belong to Purna Ambodola under Ambodola police limits of the district. They are sons of Belajhar Karkaria, who lost about 1.5 acres of land due to the construction of railway track towards Vedanta plant at Lanjigarh in 2007.
After the engine got detained for about 15 to 20 minutes, the Vedanta authorities called up Ashok and assured him to provide job in their company. After receiving the assurance, Ashok and his brother called off their protest.
The Vedanta officials said Ashok put forth his grievance a few days back and it was under the consideration of the company. On the other hand, Ashok alleged that his repeated requests for job were turned down by the company forcing him to resort to such an act.